I refer to the letter 'Bravo to PM for meritorious suggestion' (Aug 1) by SW Chan. I hate being a wet blanket, but surely you realise that since the Anwar Ibrahim issue, the prime minister has always been speaking with forked tongue.

There is always the 'if' factor.

Remember the quota system issue brought up some months back? Dr Mahathir Mohamad said, "If the bumiputera are not interested in studying, then the places will be given to the non-bumis". I'm sure all of you remembered what happened after that.

I will only rejoice when meritocracy is really practiced.